BEREA, Ohio -- Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and offensive lineman Ryan Tucker were placed on the active physically unable to perform list Wednesday as the Cleveland Browns opened training camp.
Jurevicius, who caught 50 passes -- 29 on third down -- last season, has had two operations on his right knee since the end of last season. His recovery took a major setback when he contracted a staph infection.
Browns general manager Phil Savage said the players can remain on the active list through the mandatory cutdown to 75 players. After that, if the team places an injured player on the list, he must miss the first six games of the regular season.
The 33-year-old Tucker broke his hip during mini-camp in May and had surgery in June. He has made solid progress in his recovery, Savage said. Tucker played both right tackle and guard last season after being suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.
Savage was asked if he expected both players back for the regular season.
"For Ryan, we feel good about where he is," Savage said. "With Joe, it's a little up in the air right now. Unfortunately, it took a turn for the worse while we were gone on vacation, but we are still hopeful to have him. It could be for the first part of the season and it may be further down the line."
Jurevicius had 50 catches for 614 yards and three touchdowns last season. The 33-year-old was expected to see a reduced role this season as the Browns' No. 3 receiver behind wide receivers Braylon Edwards and Donte' Stallworth. Signed by the Browns as a free agent in March, Stallworth was kept out of the club's first workout with a hamstring injury .
The most likely candidates to replace Jurevicius are special teams Pro Bowler Joshua Cribbs and wide receiver Travis Wilson.
But Cribbs has just 14 receptions over three seasons and dropped a number of balls during minicamp last month. Wilson, a third-round draft pick in 2006, didn't play at all last season and has been a disappointment.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
